Used car guide

2001 Mercedes-Benz E-Class: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2001 Mercedes-Benz E-Classs, from 590 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

590MOT tests in 2025
66%pass first time (all 2001 cars: 61%)
4,300typical miles a year
2.1×the usual rate for sub-frame

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2001 Mercedes-Benz E-Classs than on all cars registered in 2001.

  • Sub-frame2.1× usual
    Mercedes-Benz E-Class
    10% All 2001 cars
    4.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, against 0.2% of all 2001 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

  • Rear fog light3.3× usual
    Mercedes-Benz E-Class
    5.9% All 2001 cars
    1.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.9%, against 1.7% of all 2001 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

By area

The share of 2001 Mercedes-Benz E-Class MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    37% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Lights and electrics
    36% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Brakes
    34% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Tyres
    27% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    19% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Rust and bodywork
    12% of testsRough price £150–£1,000

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20222,836Tyres 22%
20216,400Tyres 22%
202010,448Tyres 24%
201920,915Tyres 24%
201820,781Tyres 26%
201721,829Tyres 26%
201619,961Tyres 28%
201520,754Tyres 31%
201419,486Brakes 33%
201317,910Brakes 38%
201213,734Brakes 39%
201112,484Brakes 38%
201010,496Brakes 38%
20096,067Brakes 39%
20083,840Brakes 40%
20074,720Brakes 39%
20063,060Brakes 40%
20053,390Suspension 42%
20043,368Suspension 42%
20032,458Suspension 43%
2002805Suspension 44%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2001 Mercedes-Benz E-Classs registered in 2001. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score